I am thinking of hiking the Grafton Notch Loop over the 4th of July and was wondering if anyone had any beta on the trail. Are there maps available? Any guide books or trail descriptions? Is the entire trail well marked? Has anyone out there hiked it that can give me the low down?
Big B
There is info on the Grafton Loop on the MATC’s website including maps you can down load:
The MATC info will concern mostly the eastern portion which they built and maintain, it opened in 2002/2003 (I believe). The western Grafton Loop will offically open on June 30, 2007 (finally) and is an AMC trail. I’ve only hiked a couple miles of the AMC section but what I saw was beautiful. Between Slide Mountain and Sunday River White Cap the climbs were easy and the trail was still not worn in. Its actually soft. I helped build the outhouse at Slide Mountain Campsite last weekend. The campsite has a bearbox, three tent pads and a moldering outhouse. The Sargeant Brook campsite is the same except it has four or five tent pads. The AMC has a PDF map and other GLT info online too:
Celt
Thanks Celt, both for the info and helping to build this trail. Is it easy to find the trail after it crosses the road from the eastern to western route? On the map it looks like a bit of a road walk.
Big B
Yes its a road walk. I don’t know how far but it didn’t seem too far. All four trailheads are well marked. I recall the two in near Newry had brown road signs reading “Grafton Loop Trail Parking, 500ft”. The one for the eastern loop had a gravel lot on rt 26.
Celt
I hiked the entire loop last year. Overall the trail was easy, well marked and easy to follow. except for when I came to the south end of the western half. I could not find the last .3 of the trail. No problem though. I came out to the road and walked .3 north to the car. The eastern half has more camping opportunities and more streams for water. There’s parking at both, south and north, trail heads. allow 3 - 5 days depending on your ability. Have fun.
FDFMN